227:
148:
453:
573:) was previously the pride of the fleet. Of 275 tons, she was built in 1971 to provide cruise services and standby ferry duties. When on the ferry run she was typically used at rush and peak periods. She looked similar to the other ferries built in 1966, but had a bar, dance floor, restaurant, deck shelter and was painted with an apple green hull and funnels, but instead of the red logo, with white PHF lettering, she had a dark green band, all the way round the white superstructure. This ferry was replaced in 2003 by the
421:
35:
385:
26:
330:
In response to the challenges posed by the 2020 pandemic, the ferry service has undergone adjustments to its schedule. Presently, a single boat departs every 15 minutes in both directions, a modification from the previous setup of a two-ferry service with departures every 7.5 minutes. During special
321:
completed a hostile takeover with a value of £7.5 million. The takeover was met with controversy as it was believed that a single shareholder would cut investment and raise fares. On 10 December the
Falkland Island Company released a statement announcing it had over 51% of the total shares and
165:
An Act for establishing a
Floating Bridge or Bridges over the Harbour of Portsmouth from or near a Place called Gosport Beach, in the Parish of Alverstoke in the County of Southampton, to the opposite Shore, to or near a Place called Portsmouth Point, in the Parish of Portsmouth in the said County,
313:
since 2001). In addition to
Gosport Ferries Ltd and other related interests, PHFC also owns Clarence Marine Engineering Ltd, which provides maintenance services for the ferries as well as general marine engineering services. Gosport Ferries Ltd was incorporated in 1988, registered company 2254382;
508:
was built in 1966. This vessel replaced the other two original, smaller, Gosport ferries. However three of the original, smaller diesel-powered ferries were kept and used for harbour cruises in the summer and standby ferry duties in the winter months, when
589:
is now in
Copenhagen and is being used as a floating cafe; she is known as Cafe Sundance. In the early hours of the morning of 11 February 2016, a fire broke out on board, which completely engulfed the top deck and left her badly damaged. However today,
314:
Clarence Marine
Engineering was incorporated in 1987, registered company 2139067. Both are non-trading companies whose registered office is located in South Street, Gosport, head offices for the Gosport Ferry Ltd plc, registered company 18751.
375:
was built in 2001 and is the oldest ship in the fleet. It is painted in standard
Gosport Ferry livery and has a single enclosed deck and an open upper deck. During its first few months in service it ran alongside the two
529:; they were fondly known by retired Captain Albert 'Tiddler' Jessey and his grandchild as 'The Marjorie Daw boats' (after the nursery rhyme), as they rolled in rough weather like the motion of a seesaw. In 1974
412:, but has a covered top deck and a bar, so it is normally used on cruise services. The vessel does, however, operate on the ferry service when either of the other vessels are unavailable.
123:, who had operated ferries on the route for centuries. These watermen had enjoyed protected rights between 1603 and 1840, limiting operation of ferries on the route to Gosport residents.
634:
720:(on a cruise around the Solent and Harbour) both passing Clarence Pier, off Southsea. Two days of special evening cruises occurred during The Festival of the Sea, when the
244:
An Act for amending and enlarging the Powers of an Act for establishing a
Floating Bridge or Bridges over the Harbour of Portsmouth in the County of Southampton.
99:, southern England. It is currently operated by Gosport Ferry Ltd, a subsidiary of the Portsmouth Harbour Ferry Company Ltd, itself a wholly owned subsidiary of
545:
has since been sold to
Absolute Charters. She left Gosport for the final time on 29 February 2016 to start a new life as a party cruise boat on the
331:
events like the
Victorious Festival, the service will run two boats, ensuring a more frequent interval service to accommodate the increased demand.
747:. The latter vessel replaces the former when the former is out of service. Cruises were once the duty of the withdrawn vessels, the
249:
171:
950:
945:
830:
448:, carrying up to 300 passengers, and includes more modern facilities, better cycle storage, and more sheltered seating.
728:
did a special harbour cruise to view the tall ships and fireworks by night. Now cruises are generally operated by the
322:
setting out the terms for the purchase of the rest. In 2016, Falkland
Islands Holdings changed its name to FIH group.
799:
955:
848:
812:
704:
were not operating on their usual work horse ferry duties). In the height of the summer, it was not unusual to see
231:
152:
896:"Gay Enterprise - Solent Enterprise (1974) - Sundance (2005) - Portsmouth-Gosport Ferry - Capital Pleasure Boats"
290:
199:
626:
866:
775:"Gosport Ferries Limited - Portsmouth Harbour Ferry Company - Page 1: Up to 1962 - Simplon Postcards"
564:
444:
is the newest member of the fleet and went into operation in May 2015. It is similar in size to the
298:
In 1840, a steam operated chain ferry was introduced, to a design similar to that already in use at
318:
299:
692:, however it has been known on the odd occasions, (in the late 80s and early 90s) for one of the
614:
393:
940:
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was sold. The cruises after that continued to be operated by just the company's cruise ferry
239:
160:
483:, was sold in January 2017 to London Party Boats and will be used for party cruises on the
360:
115:, making it one of the longest serving ferry services in the UK. In 1963, it took over the
680:(three of the smaller original diesel ferries). The three were sold, (with the arrival of
8:
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seating upstairs (also with seating with tables in the centre section) as well as a bar.
653:
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452:
429:
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has been completely repaired and is now used as a houseboat by its current owners.
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111:
The company that currently operates the Gosport ferry was created in 1883 as the
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895:
794:
South Coast Railways – Portsmouth to Southampton. Vic Mitchell and Keith Smith.
774:
408:
is the second newest vessel of the fleet. It is to a similar design to that of
309:
in 1963, the company changed its name to the Portsmouth Harbour Ferry Company (
254:
176:
852:
834:
816:
934:
883:
713:
630:
469:
100:
625:. She was withdrawn from this service in 1995. After a period on charter to
601:
was built in 1974 of 119 tons, to replace the three original diesel ferries
582:
546:
484:
267:
189:
34:
473:
was built in 1966 and was used for refit cover for a number of years. The
618:
638:
92:
67:
561:
and the vessel remains in Queenborough and is once again up for sale.
517:
was away for refit. The three original ferries the company kept were
96:
52:
25:
384:
733:
306:
120:
87:
is a ferry service for pedestrians and cyclists operating between
496:
88:
63:
915:
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and was sold in 2005 to Capital Pleasure Boats, who renamed her
557:. However, to date, work has stalled on the refit of the former
657:
550:
849:"Portsmouth Harbour Ferry Company Ltd plc company information"
709:
926:
History and information of the Gosport Ferry and its vessels
617:
four years later, in 1978. She subsequently operated on the
541:
were sold with the arrival of the 'Southsea Queen'. The
696:
to operate on a Harbour or Solent cruise, (when either
117:
Gosport & Portsea Watermen's Steam Launch Company
113:
Port of Portsmouth Steam Launch & Towing Company
831:"Clarence Marine Engineering company information"
932:
739:When there are no more cruises for a year, the
416:is painted in standard Gosport Ferry livery.
790:
788:
743:operates on the ferry service alongside the
660:. In the early 70s cruises were operated by
302:. The chain ferry ceased operation in 1959.
613:, but she was unsuccessful and was sold to
214:Portsmouth Harbour Floating Bridge Act 1840
884:http://www.fihplc.com/download/10Dec04.pdf
877:
813:"Gosport Ferries Ltd company information"
785:
933:
769:
767:
499:for the final time on 20 January 2017.
461:
353:
341:
291:Text of statute as originally enacted
200:Text of statute as originally enacted
921:Portsmouth Harbour Ferry Company plc
764:
285:Portsmouth Floating Bridge Act 1838
135:Portsmouth Floating Bridge Act 1838
13:
14:
967:
909:
888:
652:The Gosport Ferry also operates
451:
419:
383:
334:
232:Parliament of the United Kingdom
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153:Parliament of the United Kingdom
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33:
24:
166:with proper Approaches thereto.
859:
841:
823:
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621:service where she was renamed
1:
758:
477:, sister-ship to the former
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7:
635:Clyde Maritime Services Ltd
627:Brownsea Island Ferries Ltd
10:
972:
951:Ferry companies of England
946:Ferry transport in England
867:"Ferry in takeover battle"
684:in 1974), however in 1978
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380:due to teething problems.
207:United Kingdom legislation
128:United Kingdom legislation
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119:, founded in 1875 by the
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319:Falkand Islands Holdings
956:Transport in Portsmouth
615:White Horse Ferries Ltd
487:; she will be renamed
855:on 18 September 2012.
581:for operation on the
741:Spirit of Portsmouth
730:Spirit of Portsmouth
633:, she was bought by
575:Spirit of Portsmouth
553:and will be renamed
414:Spirit of Portsmouth
406:Spirit of Portsmouth
394:Spirit of Portsmouth
41:Spirit of Portsmouth
900:www.simplonpc.co.uk
819:on 5 February 2013.
779:www.simplonpc.co.uk
20:
708:(on a day trip to
462:Notable past fleet
18:
916:Gosport Ferry Ltd
873:. 7 October 2004.
837:on 30 April 2008.
753:Solent Enterprise
745:Spirit of Gosport
722:Solent Enterprise
706:Solent Enterprise
690:Solent Enterprise
662:Solent Enterprise
587:Solent Enterprise
566:Solent Enterprise
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446:Spirit of Gosport
410:Spirit of Gosport
373:Spirit of Gosport
361:Spirit of Gosport
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277:Other legislation
220:Act of Parliament
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141:Act of Parliament
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77:Gosport Ferry Ltd
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851:. Archived from
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833:. Archived from
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815:. Archived from
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718:Portsmouth Queen
698:Portsmouth Queen
559:Portsmouth Queen
543:Portsmouth Queen
515:Portsmouth Queen
505:Portsmouth Queen
480:Portsmouth Queen
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348:Entered service
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871:Portsmouth News
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489:Pearl of London
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255:3 & 4 Vict.
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177:1 & 2 Vict.
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749:Southsea Queen
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475:Gosport Queen
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335:Current fleet
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101:FIH group plc
98:
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90:
86:
85:Gosport Ferry
76:
72:
69:
65:
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58:
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36:
31:
27:
22:
19:Gosport Ferry
16:
899:
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853:the original
843:
835:the original
825:
817:the original
807:
778:
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732:, which has
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639:
637:and renamed
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610:
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583:River Thames
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555:London Queen
554:
547:River Thames
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488:
485:River Thames
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351:Information
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268:Royal assent
190:Royal assent
125:
116:
112:
110:
84:
82:
40:
15:
678:Ferry Queen
656:around the
619:Hythe Ferry
611:Ferry Queen
539:Ferry Queen
527:Ferry Queen
342:Ferry name
272:4 June 1840
935:Categories
759:References
569:(formerly
240:Long title
194:9 May 1838
161:Long title
93:Portsmouth
68:Portsmouth
43:at Gosport
326:Timetable
317:In 2004,
305:Upon the
97:Hampshire
55:, England
53:Hampshire
751:and the
734:moquette
592:Sundance
579:Sundance
307:takeover
300:Woolston
250:Citation
172:Citation
121:watermen
74:Operator
654:cruises
648:Cruises
640:Cruiser
497:Gosport
107:History
89:Gosport
64:Gosport
798:
716:) and
694:Queens
664:(then
658:Solent
551:London
491:. The
378:Queens
354:Image
345:Built
282:Amends
257:c. liv
49:Locale
710:Cowes
674:Vesta
607:Vesta
535:Vesta
523:Vesta
495:left
438:2015
435:2014
402:2005
399:2005
369:2001
366:2001
262:Dates
184:Dates
179:c. xi
60:Route
796:ISBN
724:and
676:and
670:Vita
668:),
609:and
603:Vita
597:The
537:and
531:Vita
525:and
519:Vita
502:The
467:The
91:and
83:The
39:The
700:or
629:in
549:in
513:or
311:plc
95:in
66:to
937::
898:.
869:.
787:^
777:.
766:^
755:.
712:,
672:,
605:,
585:.
533:,
521:,
103:.
902:.
802:.
781:.
643:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
